Tool for manipulating head lamp lenses



March l2, 1940. o. G. HILDEBRAND TOOL FOR MANIPULATING HEAD LAMP LENSES original Filed Feb. 21, 1939 2 sheets-Sheet 1 March 1,2, 1940: o. G. HILDEBRAND TOOL FOR MANIPULATING HEAD LAMP LENSES 2 sheets-sbt 2 original Filed Feb. 21, 195e 57% my @mm2 2 @dei @17,4%

Patented Mar.l l2, i946 PATENT OFFICE TOL FOR MANIPULATING. HEAD LANL? 1 LENSES v Otto G. Hildebrand, Cleveland, Ohio Continuation. ofapplication Serial` No. 257,677,

February 21, 1939.

This application November `30, 1.9.59,` Serial No. 306,823

5 Claims.

. My invention contemplates, and has for its object to provide, a novel and eiective tool `of simple, inexpensive and sturdy construction, which is especially` adapted for use in manipulating automotive vehicle head lamp lenses and other objects having smooth convexly curved surfaces to which thetool is to be applied.

The present application is a continuation ofmy application Serial No. 257,677, filed February 21, 1939; More specifically my present invention provides a new and usefulspecies of that tool genus which isr characterized by (a) a flexible diaphragm adapted to engage a smooth surface to which the w tool is applied, (b) a hollow casing of which the diaphragm constitutes one wall, and (c) force multiplying' mechanism-e. g., a cam lever and linkagefor drawing the central `portion of the diaphragm inwardly vof the casing temporarily to L10.: give such diaphragm the conformation of a re1-` 4 `atively deep cup and to establish a partial vacuum inzachamber dened by such cup andthe smooth surface to which the tool is` applied.

Byreason of its novel featuresfhereinafter deoi' `the aforesaid tool genus is applicable with equal facility and eii'ectiveness to convexly curved surfaces (e. g., such as arepresented by headlamp lenses) as Well asplane surfaces (e. g., .fm such as are presented by sheets of glass, flat walls, etc). Earlier speciesvof the same genus, sofar asthey have come to my attention, have been intended for, and, in actual practice have been applicable, with satisfactory iacility and eifectiveness, only to plane surfaces. Examples ofY such earlier species of the said genus are the plate glass handling implement of Burk Patent No. 2,127,154, and the brackets, for application toflat walls of various kinds, disclosed in Bau- 50 lampilens to which such tool is to be adhered by tion of the tool;

2 is` an axial sectional view `of the tool 55.; which mayberegarded as taken on thev line 2-2 nl scribed and subsequently claimed, my new species meister Patent No. 276,336, Lang Patent No.V

" atmospheric. pressure acting against a partial vacuum developed by the subsequent manipulaof Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tool;

Fig. e is an axial sectional View of the tool as it appears, in, relation to a head lamp lens, in `the circumstances also depicted in Fig. l-the section of such Fig. 4 being one which may be regarded as taken on the line `ll---ll 4of Fig. 3 `and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;`

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the tool as it appears when its operating lever has been actuated to draw the tool diaphragm into the. conformation of afdeep cup` in which exi ists the partial vacuum against which atmospheric pressure acts to adhere the tool iens;ia`nd Fig. 6 is an elevational lView of a slightly ed embodimentof my invention.

mod1- Similar charactersof reference vrefer to similar Q partsthrougnout the several views.

to the b My improved tool4 comprises a metal frameV l member or casing l1' which is kgenerally circular and provided with a small diameter portion 2 constituting` a handle adapted readily to be grasped Within a hand of the user. The cuter surface of casing por-tion 2'I may be roughened (e. g., as by knurling) to facilitate `the hand grip thereon.` (SeeFig. 6.) i Y,

Casing l-Malso comprises a larger' diameter portion` 3 which is coaxial with smaller diameter portion 2 and integrally connected therewith by an annular shoulder Z-a.` Such shoulder Z-a constitutes an abutment against which the user may press, with vthat one of his hands which grasps the casing portion 2, While yusing the other hand to move the hereinafter described lever lil, when applying the tool to aghead lamp lens or 'other suitable object. The lower edge of theV casing portion 3 `is curled to rprovide `casing l with arounded annular bead S-a, constituting` a pressure ring, which rrnly may be pressed against the neXt-to-be-described rubber diarubber diaphragm il., has its` periphery evenly b spaced from the periphery of the diaphragm, and. is provided at its central portion with an in- WardlyI extending lug El which conveniently is struck andturned from` the metal of which disc 5 isiormed. Pivotedat lf to lug. 6 isthe ,inner end of a link 8. Such link 8 is in the form of a metal strap which extends slidably but snugly through registering rectangular openings in casing I, and a thrust washer 9 which bears against the smaller end of casing I. Pivoted at l-a. to the outer end of link 8 is the lever It which, preferably, is so conformed from a single piece of metal as to have spaced apart end portions which straddle the outer end of the link. Such spaced apart end portions of the lever present a pair of similar spaced apart cam surfaces II, eccentric to pivot 'I-a, which bear directly against the thrust washer (or directly against the casing I Y if the thrust washer be omitted). The web or back portion Ill-a of the lever I5 has an end edge iiib which is adapted to engage the link t when the lever is in the locking position depicted in Fig. 5.

The lever Iii serves as a very satisfactory mechanical means forl flexing, stretching, and drawing the diaphragm li from the somewhat slightly flattened spherically concave-convex conformation of Fig. 4 to the deeplyl cupped conformation of Fig. 5-and for locking thel diaphragm in such deeply cupped conformation.

The rubber diaphragm ii is provided with an inl tegral annular rib or bead I2 which extends around the inner surface of the diaphragm, at a uniform distance from the periphery of the diaphragm-such rib or bead acting to center casing I with respect to thediaphragm. vDiaphragm il is not attached to casing I except through link 8. That surface of the peripheral portion li-a of the diaphragm which lies against the casing bead 3 0. is free to slide against and with respect to such casing bead 3-a when the diaphragm changes from its conformation of Fig. 4 to its conformationl of Fig. 5, and vice versa. The peripheral portion Ii-a. of the diaphragm, extending as it does well outwardly beyond the periphery of the disc 5, is quite flexible, whereas the central portion of the `diaphragm is substantially stiffened by disc 5. It also will be noted that the casing bead or pressure ring 3-a always engages the flexible peripheral portion 4--a of the diaphragm in a circular line spaced from the periphery of that face of the diaphragm against which such bead or pressure ring Ibears-although the distance between such periphery of such face and such circular line of engagement diminishes when the conformation of the diaphragm changes from that of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5.

It is of the utmost importance that the diaphragm be quite thick in relation 'to its diameter, that it be flexible at its periphery and relatively stiff at its central portion, that it be of larger diameter thanv and be unattached to the pressure ring, and that it carry means, preferably in the form of an integral bead, which lies within and loosely engages the pressure ring `to maintain substantial concentricity between pressure ring and diaphragm when the parts are in the positions depicted in Figs. 1 to 4 both inclusive. As to the requiredthickness of the diaphragm, I will say that when the diaphragm has a diameter of approximately four inches when conformed as illustrated in Fig. 2, it should have a thickness of from three sixteenths of an inch to a quarter of an inch. In other words, the thickness ofthe diaphragm is preferably from three sixty-fourths (1i/64) to one-sixteenth (1/16) of its diameter.

It is a peculiarity of the tool of the present invention, when in actual use, that the face of the diaphragm against which the bead or pressure ring 3-a. bears has its diameter noticeably diminished when the diaphragm is flexed, stretched and drawn from its conformation of Fig. 4 to its conformation of Fig. 5, but that the face of the diaphragm which lies against the surface to which the tool has attached itself does not noticeably suffer any change in its diameter' during such change of the diaphragm from its conformation of Fig. 4 t0 its'conf'ormation of Fig. 5. In other Words, the peripheral portion li-a of the diaphragm appears not to slip, with respect to the smooth surface to which the tool is attaching itself, when the diaphragm changes from its conformation of Fig. 4 to its conformation of Fig. 5, but such peripheral portion of the diaphragm does noticeably slip with respect to the bead or pressure ring 3 0. when the diaphragm is liexed, stretched and drawn from its conformation of Fig. 4 to its conformation of Fig. 5. But when the lever III is moved from its position of Fig. 4 to its .position Iof Fig. 5 at a time when the diaphragm is not being pressed against any smooth surface, both vfaces of the diaphragm are very noticeably diminished in diameter. l In Fig. l the tool is shown as it appears when about to be secured to the lens of an automobile' head lamp. Reference numeral yI3 designates a head lamp casing which receives a reflector I4. Fitting over and in the reector is a rubber gasket I5. outer surface, as depicted in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, and also has a peripheral flange which lies between the gasket I5 and the ma-rginofthe lamp casing opening which is normally closed by the lens. The lens normally is heldv in appropriate assembly with lamp casing I3, reflector I4, andv gasket I5 by a ring I'I. The lowerportion of the ring I'I is supported by a pin I8, and the upper portion of such ring is guided by a pin I9 and is urged outwardly by a spring I9-a.. In order to` tool casing is grasped in one hand of the yuserv and the tool is placed in the position depicted `byfull lines in Fig. 1. At such time the bead I2 maintains substantial concentricity between ldiaphragm and the annular bead or pressure 'Ihen the hand grasping the casing portion 2 exerts pressure against shoulder 2--a ring 3 0..

inthe lines and in the direction of the feathered arrows 20,50 that the annular bead, or pressure ring, .'S--rt of the casing will press against the flexible peripheral portion li--a of the diaphragm,y

in a circular line spaced inwardly of the diaphragm periphery, snugly to clamp the diaphragm portion Il-a between the bead B-a and the lens and rmly to press such portion 4-a The lens I6 has a convexly curved of the diaphragm generally flatwise against theI convexly curved surface ofthe lens, as illustrated inFig, 4; Then with one hand of the user holding and pressing against the tool casing, as just described, the other hand'of the user is employed to move the too-l lever I0 from its full line position of Fig. l to its dotted line position of the same figure. Fig. 4 shows the lever Ill in its full line position of Fig. 1, whereas Fig. 5 shows such lever in thel dotted lineposition of Figrl. The

flexed and stretched and drawn to its deeply cuppedconformation of Fig. 5 without its flexible portion --a noticeably moving With respect" to or losing .air-tight contact withthe conveXly curved surface 'of the lensV It, even though the diameter ofsthat face of the-diaphragm, against which the bead or pressure ringy 3,--a bears, diminishes,` and even though the 'peripheral portion ll--a of the diaphragm slipswith respect to bead 3--11 as the diaphragm assumes its deeply cupped conformation. Consequently, the partial vacuum `developed in the chamber `2l (Figi.r

5) between lens I6 and diaphragm li is such that atmospheric pressure holds the tool 'tightly `upon the lens as a convenient handle for use in manipulating the lens out of and into the head lamp casing. i

Since the bed or pressure ring S-a is of substantially less diameter thanthe diaphragm and always engages the flexible peripheral portion 4--11 of `the diaphragm in a circular line spaced from the diaphragm periphery, and since the face of the diaphragm bearing against the lens i6 (or other smooth surface rto which.` the tool is being attached) experiences no diminishment of its diameter when the diaphragm is flexed, stretched and drawn to its deeply cupped position, it follows that `at all timesv While the Atool is being attached to a lens, or other smooth surface, that face of the diaphragm which engages such surface is clamped against said surface in a circular line, which remains definitely andsubstantially spaced from, and need not shift with respect to, the periphery of such diaphragm face. This is of the utmost importance in order to exclude air from the chamber 2l when the diaphragm is being iiexed, stretched and d rawn -to its deeply cupped position in the courseofthe application ofthe tool to a convexly curved surface such as is presented by a head lamp lens.

It is not at all necessary to rnoisten` the outer surface of the lens I in order to attach the tool thereto as just described. The tool is quickly released from the lens by `moving lever IG from lts position of Fig. 5to its position ofFigs. 2 and 4-the diaphragm then acting to restore itself and other parts of the tool to their respective positions depicted in Fig. 2.

am not the rst to attempt the manipulation of head lamp lenses with temporary handles in the nature of tools comprising vacuum cups for effecting their attachment to the lenses (see the multiple vacuum cup tool of McKechnie Patent No. 2,091,050, and the tool comprising nested cups shown by Mattern Patent No, 2,127,181) but I do believe I am the iirst to pro-vide for such purpose, or any purpose, a simple, inexpensive and sturdy tool, or any tool,v affording the important functional advantages` resultant from those novel features of tool construction and operation which are specied in the appended claims.

It has been found that the tool of the present invention has additional fields of usefulness in, for examples, handlingat sheets of glass, manipulating engine pistons into and out of their cylinders, and for removing small dents from nat ferl'ed embodiment lof my invention, what I claim as new and desire .to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

l l. In combination with a tool, for manipulating a lamp lens or other object. having a convexly curved or plane surface to which the tool is applicable, comprising: a substantially circular iiexible diaphragm, a frame member comprising a' pressure ring, of substantially less diameter than said diaphragm,`slidably disposed against one face ofthe diaphragm, said pressure ring lying wholly within and being spaced from the` periphery of the diaphragm so that pressure transmitted to the diaphragm through said frame memberand said pressure ring may be applied to one face of ther diaphragm in a circular line substantially concentric with but spaced inwardly from the periphery of` said diaphragm to press `theperipheral portion of the other face of the v diaphragm flatvvise against the surface to which sure ring into closer proximity to the aforesaid circular line of pressure application; a member carried by thediaphragm, lying within and engaging but unattached to the frame member, tending to maintain concentricity between the diaphragm and the'pressure ring.

2. In combination with a tool, for manipulating'a lamp `lens or other objecthaving a convexly curved or plane surface to which the tool is applicable, comprising: a substantially circular iiexible diaphragm, a `:frame member comprising a pressure ring, of substantially less diameter than said diaphragm, slidably disposed against one face of the diaphragm, said pressure ring lying wholly within and being spaced from the periphery ofthe diaphragm sothat pressure transmitted to the diaphragm through said frame member Having thus illustrated and described a preand saidpressure ring may be applied to one face f applied, anddiaphragmiiexing mechanism, acting between the frame member and the central portion of the diaphragm, adapted when actuated to draw that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring radially across` and then through the pressure ring to give said dia-y phragm the conformation of a cup and to constrict the peripheral edgeV of that face of ,thel

diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring into closer proximity to the aforesaid cir`. cular line of pressure application; an annular rib, carried by the diaphragm, lying within but unattached to the pressure ring, said annular rib being disposed in close proximity to the pressure ring prior to iiexing of the diaphragm to the conformation of a cup, and thus tending to maintain concentricity between the diaphragm and the pressure ring.

3. In a tool for manipulating a lamp lens or other object having a conVeXly curved or plane surface to which the tool is applicable, a substantially circular exible diaphragm, a frame mem` '1li` ber in the form of a substantially bell shaped casing formed from sheet metal and provided at its open end with a curled edge constituting an annular pressure ring, said pressure ring being of substantially less diameter than said diaphragm and being slidably disposed against one face of the diaphragm, said pressure ring lying wholly within and being spaced from the periphery of the diaphragm so that pressure transmitted to the diaphragm through the casing may be applied to the diaphragm in a circular line substantially concentric with but spaced inwardly from the periphery of the diaphragm, a strap metal link pivotally attached to the central portion of said diaphragm and extending toward and through the closed end of the casing, and a lever cooperating with the end of said strap link which projects outwardly from the casing, and a cam surface on said lever which is adapted to bear against the adjacent portion of the casing to pull said strap link outwardly from the casing and thus draw that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the `pressure ring radially across the pressure ring and into the casing, to give said diaphragm the conformation of a cup and to constrict the peripheral edge of that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring into closer proximity to the pressure ring, said diaphragm being of such thickness in relation to its diameter, that the peripheral edge of its face engaging a surface to which the tool is being applied is not noticeably constricted when the diaphragm assumes the conformation of a cup.

4. In a tool for manipulating a lamp lens or other object having a convexly curved or plane surface to which the tool is applicable, a substantially circular flexible diaphragm, a frame member in the form of a substantially bell shaped casing formed from sheet metal and provided at its open end with a curled edge constituting an annular pressure ring, said pressure ring being of substantially less diameter than said diaphragm and being slidably disposed against one face of the diaphragm, said pressure ring lying wholly within andbeing spaced from the periphery of the diaphragm so that pressure transmitted to the diaphragm through the casing may be applied to the diaphragm in a circular lline substantially concentricwith but spaced inwardly from the periphery of the diaphragm, a strap metal link pivotally attached 'to the central portion of said diaphragm and extending toward and through the closed end of the casing, and a lever cooperating with the end of said strap link which projects outwardly from the casing, and a cam surface on said lever which is adaptedrto bear against the adjacent portion of the casing to pull said strap link outwardly from the casing and thus draw that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring radially across the pressure ring and into the casing, to give said diaphragm the conformation of a cup and to constrict the peripheraledge of that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring into closer proximity to therpressure ring, said diaphragm being of such thickness in relation to its diameter, that the peripheral edge of its face engaging a surface to which the tool is being applied is not noticeably constricted when the diaphragm assumes the conformation of a cup, the smaller diameter portion of said bell shaped casing having its outer surface roughened to facilitate the manipulation of the tool.

5. In a tool for manipulating a lamp lens or other object having a convexly curved or plane surface to which the tool is applicable, a substantiallycircular iiexibleY diaphragm, a frame member comprising a pressure ring, of substantially less diameter than said diaphragm, slidably disposed against' one face of the diaphragm, said pressure ring lying, wholly within and being spaced from the periphery of the diaphragm so that pressure transmitted to the diaphragm through said frame member and said pressure ring may be applied to one face of the diaphragm in a circular line substantially concentric with but spaced inwardly from the periphery of said diaphragm to press the peripheral portion kof the other faceof the diaphragm flatwise against the surface to which the tool is applied, and diaphragm exing mechanism, acting between the frame member and the central portion of the diaphragm, adapted when actuated to draw that face of the diaphragm which is contiguous to the pressure ring radially across and then through the pressure ring to give said diaphragm the conformation of a cup and to constrict the peripheral edge of that face of the diaphragm which `is contiguous to the pressure ring into closer proximity to the aforesaid circular line of pressure application, said diaphragm being of such thickness in relation to its diameter, that the peripheral edge of its face engaging a surface 1 to which the tool is being applied is not noticeably constricted when the diaphragm assumes the conformation of a cup.

OTTO G. HILDEBRAND. 

